Don’t Get Duped by Fake Parking Tickets – A New Scam Is Targeting Drivers

If you get a text or email saying you owe a parking fine and need to pay immediately, do not click the link. A wave of phishing scams is impersonating state DMVs and parking authorities, and the North Carolina Department of Justice has issued an official consumer alert. Similar schemes have appeared in other states, often following the launch of digital payment systems for parking or toll violations. Here is what you need to know to spot the fraud and protect your money.

What happened

Scammers send a text message or email that claims to be from a state DMV, local parking enforcement, or a toll agency. The message states you have an unpaid parking violation and includes a link to a website that looks like the real payment portal. The North Carolina Attorney General’s office warned that these messages often use urgent language such as “pay within 24 hours to avoid additional fines” or “failure to pay will result in a warrant.”

The link leads to a spoofed page that asks for personal information and payment. Once you enter your credit card or banking details, the scammers either steal the money directly or use the information for identity theft. In some variations, the fraudsters demand payment via gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency – real government agencies never ask for those methods.

Why it matters

This scam works because it preys on a common fear: missing a payment and facing penalties. Drivers are accustomed to getting parking tickets on their windshield, but digital notices are less familiar, so people may be more likely to react without thinking. The North Carolina alert specifically notes that the scam is active and causing financial harm. Even if you do not live in North Carolina, the same pattern has been reported in other states, especially after a state rolls out new online payment options for traffic or parking fines.

The financial damage can be immediate – fraudulent charges on your card or empty gift card balances – and the personal data you hand over can lead to months of cleanup, from new credit cards to credit freezes.

What readers can do

Red flags to watch for

  • The message uses a generic greeting like “Dear driver” or “Valued customer” instead of your name.
  • The sender’s email address or the URL in the text looks suspicious – for example, misspellings like “nc-dmv-pay.net” instead of the official .gov domain.
  • The message demands payment within a very short window or threatens legal action immediately.
  • Payment is requested via gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. Government agencies never ask for those.
  • The link leads to a page that asks for your Social Security number or driver’s license number in addition to payment.

How to verify a real parking violation

If you receive a notice that you owe a parking fine, do not use any phone number or link in the message. Instead:

  • Go directly to your state DMV or local parking authority’s official website. Look up their contact information independently – do not rely on search results that may be ads.
  • Call the official phone number listed on the agency’s website. Ask if there is a violation recorded against your license plate.
  • Check your vehicle’s history with the local parking enforcement office. Many municipalities have online portals where you can look up tickets by license plate number – but type the URL yourself, never from the suspicious message.

What to do if you receive a scam message

  • Do not click any links or reply to the message.
  • Take a screenshot of the message (if safe to do so) and note the sender’s phone number or email address.
  • Report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
  • File a complaint with your state attorney general’s consumer protection office. In North Carolina, that is the NCDOJ consumer complaint page.
  • If you already entered payment or personal information, contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately and consider placing a fraud alert on your credit report.

Sources

  • North Carolina Department of Justice official consumer alert: Attorney General Jeff Jackson Warns North Carolinians about DMV Text Scams (NCDOJ.gov, March 2026 and June 2025 updates)
  • Federal Trade Commission guidance on government impersonation scams

Stay skeptical of any unexpected message demanding money, especially one that pressures you to act fast. If it feels off, it probably is. A few minutes of verification can save you from a costly mistake.